Unbeaten Nare wins Grand Prix despite brutal schedule

Closing out a hectic racing schedule, 20-year-old Ethiopian athlete Tadu Nare admitted she was tired after bashing through windy conditions on Saturday to wrap up the overall title in the Spar Grand Prix series.

Nare went unbeaten in the six-leg women’s 10km road running campaign, taking the final race in Gqeberha in 32:33.

The campaign took a lot out of her, however, after travelling back and forth between Ethiopia and South Africa.

Unable to secure a long-term visa, Nare had to fly into the country six times in the space of seven weeks to take the Grand Prix title and the R190 000 prize that went with it.

“I had to be on my toes at all times and I couldn’t get the rest I wanted because I had to train between all the travelling,” said Nare, speaking through a translator.

“There wasn’t enough time to recover, so it has been tough.”

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But the effort was ultimately worth it.

Aside from the overall prize, Nare also raked in R150 000 in prize money from the individual races, and she planned to use her winnings to build her mother a house.

“It was tough, but I’m very excited to have won all six races,” she said.

Tayla Kavanagh, also 20, produced the race of her life on Saturday, shaking off a challenge from experienced compatriot Glenrose Xaba to finish second in 32:51 on the three-lap course at Nelson Mandela University.

Ripping a chunk off her personal best, Kavanagh set the fastest 10km time by a South African woman this year.

Xaba, who was unable to respond to a late surge, held on to finish third in 32:59.

In the overall series, Kesa Molotsane finished second and Xaba, who missed the Cape Town leg, ended in a tie for third with Fortunate Chidzivho of Zimbabwe.